What Does the Mayan Calendar Tell Us?
Introduction to the Mayan CalendarThe Mayans developed a complex and accurate calendar system which is still being studied and debated today. It is often referred to as their “Long Count calendar” based on the way the Mayans divided time into different time cycles.The Time Cycles of the Mayan CalendarThe most commonly used cycle in the Mayan calendar was a 360 day calendar called the Haab. The Tzolkin was a 260-day cycle and it was used in religious rituals and holy days. With the combination of these two cycles, the Mayans were able to keep track of long-term events such as famines and eclipses. The End of the World TheoryOne of the most famous aspects of the Mayan calendar is the idea that it foretells the “end of the world” as we know it. This theory has been popularized in books, films, and even the news media. According to this theory, the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar is December 21, 2012, though this is not actually the end of the cycle but rather the beginning of a new cycle.It's Accurate Measurement of Time The Mayan calendar is actually an extremely accurate measurement of time. The Mayans were able to accurately predict eclipses and important religious days based on their achievements in mathematics and astronomy. They were also able to accurately depict the motion and orbits of planets and the sun. Scientists still use the Mayan Long Count calendar to measure time between events and more accurately chart the growth of our universe.ConclusionIn conclusion, the Mayan calendar is a complex and extremely accurate measurement of time that has been studied and used by scientists for centuries. Despite the popular notion of the end of the world being predicted by the Mayan calendar, it is important to remember that the most accurate interpretation of the calendar is that December 21, 2012 marks the beginning of a new cycle in Mayan mythology.